FIRST COMES MARRIAGE, THEN COMES LOVE By Ira Mathur, India A suitable boy is first spotted by Bharati Narvani's uncle at a wedding in New Delhi, India. Bharati then lived in Trinidad where her parents migrated some 25 years ago from the Gujarat region of India. The 21-year-old university graduate was brought up with the customs and values of India. The boy, Manoj Solanki, 29, a civil engineer, is also of Gujarati parentage. Born in Liberia and …showed first 75 words of 2119 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2119 total…for millions of women from India an arranged marriage is not a matter of choice. It is about the union of two families, in a community, in a caste, in a religion, in a province, in a country. It is what defines India's status quo which is ultimately male-dominated. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ira Mathur is an Indian-born journalist living in Trinidad. She produces television documentaries on developmental issues and writes a regular column for The Trinidad Guardian.